Rui Pinto, the individual behind the Football Leaks website, has announced his intention to depart Portugal due to concerns regarding his personal safety. This decision follows a notification from Portuguese authorities that his status within the country’s witness protection program has been terminated. Pinto claims that he has been the target of multiple death threats and believes there is a credible risk of an assassination attempt against him.

The timing of this development coincides with recent high-profile legal proceedings in English football. Just two days prior to the notification from authorities, Manchester City was found guilty of 115 charges by the Premier League. The investigation into the club was originally sparked by the massive cache of private documents and data leaked by Pinto, which exposed various financial dealings within the sport.

While Pinto’s leaks provided the foundation for the Premier League's investigation, his legal status remains complex. He has previously faced criminal charges in Portugal related to his hacking activities, though he has maintained that his actions were in the public interest. The termination of his protection program leaves him in a precarious position as he prepares to relocate. Currently, there has been no official statement from Portuguese law enforcement detailing the specific reasons for the removal of his protection status, leaving the public to rely on Pinto’s account of the escalating threats against him.